Baby won't fall asleep at bedtime
What it's about
How long children take to fall asleep in the evening varies a lot. Germany’s Federal Institute for Public Health (BIÖG) describes how children get used to sleep aids such as breastfeeding, a bottle or closeness, and then are less willing to fall asleep alone without them – at night, too.
What studies and expert bodies say
Studies show that children with a fixed bedtime routine fall asleep faster on average and wake less often – the more regular the routine, the more so (Mindell 2009, Mindell 2015). The WHO recommends regular sleep and wake-up times for children under five. The BIÖG recommends putting the child to bed drowsy but still awake.
Sleep training – yes or no?
Experts disagree on whether sleep training programmes make sense. Several studies found no disadvantages for attachment, behaviour or stress, even years later (Price 2012, Gradisar 2016, Bilgin and Wolke 2020). Other researchers found raised stress levels in children during a programme even though they seemed calm (Middlemiss 2012), and no benefit for babies under six months (Douglas and Hill 2013). The BIÖG calls such programmes controversial: as a rule they are only recommended from one year and should only be considered after talking to your paediatrician. Whether a family does anything like this at all is its own decision; many prefer to settle their child without it. Moon Hour does not describe any method.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my baby take so long to fall asleep?
How long children take to fall asleep varies a lot. Germany’s Federal Institute for Public Health (BIÖG) describes how children get used to sleep aids such as breastfeeding, a bottle or closeness, and then are less willing to fall asleep alone without them.
Does a fixed bedtime routine help?
Studies show that children with a fixed bedtime routine fall asleep faster on average and wake less often – the more regular the routine, the more so (Mindell 2009, Mindell 2015).
Is sleep training harmful?
Experts see this differently. Several studies found no disadvantages, while other researchers found raised stress levels during a program. The BIÖG calls such programs controversial and, as a rule, only recommends them from one year after talking to your pediatrician. Moon Hour does not describe any method.
If you are worried
Experts recommend contacting your paediatrician or your local out-of-hours medical service if you are worried.
Sources
- Mindell et al. 2009: A nightly bedtime routine (randomised trial)
- Mindell et al. 2015: Bedtime routines for young children
- WHO 2019: Guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for children under 5
- BIÖG, German Federal Institute for Public Health (kindergesundheit-info.de): sleep tips for the first year
- BIÖG (kindergesundheit-info.de): sleep training programmes
- Price et al. 2012: Five years after an infant sleep programme
- Gradisar et al. 2016: Behavioural approaches to infant sleep (randomised trial)
- Bilgin and Wolke 2020: Leaving to cry, attachment and development at 18 months
- Middlemiss et al. 2012: Stress hormone in mother and infant during a sleep programme
- Douglas and Hill 2013: Sleep programmes in the first six months (review)
General information, not a substitute for medical advice.
Sources checked: November 2026